Introduction bit: I found you through reading someone else's friendslist, and only /then/ picked up your books (to my great enjoyment). Ah, the internet, strangest of marketing tools. I myself am about to be a graduate student, in either Religion or History depending on who gives me the better offer, and will work on diplomacy and religion in the medieval eastern Mediterranean regardless. Also sometimes I write early modern fantasy. I'm working up to the whole 'get in line to be rejected by magazines' bit. Short stories r hard, etc.

Question bit: Did you ever think of being a "serious" -- i.e. professional -- academic? How did that desire -- if it existed at all! -- interact with your writing?